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Hi Kartik,
Unless you’re smitten by the design of the Ignis, the Baleno will be a better fit. The price difference between the two isn’t much. For example, the Baleno Delta is as equipped as the Ignis Zeta with a price gap of only 25,000. The Baleno will also hold its value better because it’s considered more premium. Ignis < Swift < Baleno. Baleno also has more driver-oriented features like telescopic steering, UV-cut glass, front armrest.

However, if you value safety over everything else, the base petrol variant of the Ignis is as good as it gets even when compared to all cars from all companies. It’s the best value-for-money safety car for the price.

Liquid-cooled engines are cooled using a liquid. Duh! Oil happens to be a liquid. Then oil cooled equals liquid-cooled. Right?

Wrong. Oil cooled is a nifty feature but calling it that is misleading.

What Is Oil Cooled?

An oil cooled engine has its engine oil circulating through the cooling fins, which in turn are cooled via the flow of air as you ride into the wind.
[caption id="attachment_3158" align="alignnone" width="478"] Royal Enfield Himalayan Oil Cooled Engine[/caption]
Also Read: "Much Improved" Royal Enfield Himalayan Coming Soon
If you didn't know, the engine oil does more than just clean the metallic dirt and lubricate the parts inside the engine block. The heat from the clutch pack also routes through the motor oil, which helps cool down the clutch by spreading it over a larger surface area.
Oil cooling is especially useful if the bike has to see a lot of half-clutching. Slipping the clutch creates a lot of heat, and it's not good for the clutch assembly, especially the friction plates, which run quite expensive. The traditional fins surrounding the cylinder block help it stay cool.
These engines are easier to work on as they're essentially air-cooled. If something goes wrong, you can DIY the hell out of it without risking permanent damage. They also don't have to trade their cooling fins around the cylinder block for the oil radiator.
[caption id="attachment_3159" align="alignnone" width="795"] Liquid Cooled Engine Of KTM 390 - Notice The Lack Of Fins On The Cylinder Block[/caption]

What Is A Liquid-Cooled Engine?

These have a jacket of coolant instead of the cooling fins. It wraps around the entire engine assembly including the gearbox and clutch cover. It takes over the cooling duties as a pump circulates the coolant through a zigzagging pipe hiding behind sharp fins called the radiator. A fan is also there, which jumps in if the speed isn't enough to chill the coolant.
You won't (generally) find fins on a liquid-cooled engine as they do it no good. The water jacket is enough to keep the engine within its operating temperature.
[caption id="attachment_3157" align="alignnone" width="800"] KTM Radiator Fins[/caption]
Also Read: How High Compression Can Lead To Knocking
Thanks to better heat management, a liquid-cooled engine can run for a longer duration and at a higher compression. Liquid cooling keeps the heat within manageable limits. That's until something goes wrong. If you have a bad pump, fan or a leak in the coolant, then you better call roadside assistance. An easy fix in case of low coolant level would be adding water to the mix. The coolant anyways contains a large quantity of distilled water in it.
[caption id="attachment_3155" align="alignnone" width="800"] KTM Radiator Assembly With Fan[/caption]

Oil Cooled Is Marketing Gimmick

The term 'oil cooled' can be considered a marketing gimmick as it doesn't accurately convey the functionality. A more precise term to define the feature would be 'oil is cooled'.
[caption id="attachment_3154" align="alignnone" width="800"] A Casual Observer Will Think That This Triumph Street Twin Has An Air-Cooled Engine[/caption]

What About Triumph Bonnevilles?

They're an exception. The classic series of Triumphs under the Bonneville umbrella not only have fins around the cylinder but they also have a radiator. The purpose behind is to lend them a vintage appearance without sacrificing on the modern technology and features. The trick is to retain its old-school charm while hiding the tech in plain sight.
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